"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
I'll fawn over photographs
That you never would get to see
Swallow your own neglect
With your miserable company
Your daughter forgot her memories
Your daughter forgot her
Remember these
I'm over the precedent
Of a false security
No matter how I come back
You can never be proud of me
It's too long to stay gone
It's too long to stay gone
I don't regret what words were said
Deserved respect you never had
Watching the world keep falling around you
I don't expect your hand in this
Under duress and influence
Watching the world keep falling around you
I'll fawn over photographs
That you never would get to see
No matter how I come back
You can never be proud of me
It's too long to stay gone
It's too long to stay gone
I don't regret what words were said
Deserved respect you never had
Watching the world keep falling around you
I don't expect your hand in this
Under duress and influence
Watching the world keep falling around you
(around you, around you)
I don't regret what words were said
Deserved respect you never had
Watching the world keep falling around you
That you never would get to see
Swallow your own neglect
With your miserable company
Your daughter forgot her memories
Your daughter forgot her
Remember these
I'm over the precedent
Of a false security
No matter how I come back
You can never be proud of me
It's too long to stay gone
It's too long to stay gone
I don't regret what words were said
Deserved respect you never had
Watching the world keep falling around you
I don't expect your hand in this
Under duress and influence
Watching the world keep falling around you
I'll fawn over photographs
That you never would get to see
No matter how I come back
You can never be proud of me
It's too long to stay gone
It's too long to stay gone
I don't regret what words were said
Deserved respect you never had
Watching the world keep falling around you
I don't expect your hand in this
Under duress and influence
Watching the world keep falling around you
(around you, around you)
I don't regret what words were said
Deserved respect you never had
Watching the world keep falling around you
Lyrics submitted by bituminouscoal
Stay Gone Lyrics as written by James Suptic James Dewees
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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More Featured Meanings
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
this is the song that got me hooked on the get up kids:) but i have to say i like the newer stuff better than the old.